Barcelona Escapade

Chapter Forty-Three: Stay

Chapter Forty-Three
Stay

Eros was already gone in the room when morning came, but I recall waking up at dawn when I felt him kissing my forehead. Napaganda tuloy ang gising ko. My nephews were still asleep when I stood up to check downstairs.

When I went down, kakapasok lang din ni Kuya Hugo at Ate Liya ng bahay. They don't look like they just went to the garden and decided to go back inside. Ate Liya were all dressed in casual pants and sweaters.

"Eros?" hanap ko kay Kuya nang mahagip siya ng tingin. He was sporting a casual black shirt and sweat shorts. His one hand was in his pocket while the other was fiddling with his phone, as though he was texting someone.

"Umalis na," sagot niya.

I sighed in relief.

"Sorry to pull you out of relief but he almost got caught," Ate Liya added.

My forehead wrinkled. Napansin ni Kuya Hugo kaya agad siyang nagsalita. "Nandito sina Kuya Miguel at asawa niya kanina."

I went still. But it was dawn when he left!

"What? Na... nakita ba siya?" kabado kong tanong.

Agad umiling si Kuya Hugo. "No. He went out by my window."

Siningkitan ko siya ng tingin. Nagtipon kami sa dining area para doon maupo. Nagtimpla ako ng gatas at isinabay na rin ang pagtimpla ng kape para sa dalawa.

"By your window?" I inquired, picking up three mugs for us. "You mean that window in your room where you used to ditch as a kid?"

"So, mom wouldn't see me fleeing the house, yes." He grinned. "I'm not stupid to let Eros parade in the front gate."

Because the front gate has CCTVs and Kuya Hugo's window in his room is directed to our backyard garden, a blind spot in the house. The backyard where they once caught me alone and drinking by my company.

On the side note, Kuya Hugo does know how to be cautious. They must be really that close.

He has always been the sneakiest sibling among us. Palaging may kalokohan na minsan pati ako nadadamay. He always had the reason to piss Kuya Miguel off ever since.

"Kailan ang balik ninyo sa Switz?" pag-iiba ko.

"Pagkatapos ng exams mo," Ate Liya replied.

"You sure have a lot of time," I remarked.

Simula kailan pa ba sila nandito? I already got used to Elian and Magnus' presence every day.

Kuya Hugo shrugged. In a heartbeat, there was something in his eyes that conveyed concern. "I can't leave you alone. Abala si Mamá sa Silveria. Paano kung mangyari ulit ang-"

I sighed. "There's a reason why it's called an accident. Ero—no, Jayren already solved it, right? It's a plot of one of the families who are obsessed with him."

"You're taking it lightly just because you were safe," he argued, shaking his head. The anger on his face hasn't faded.

"I'm not. I just want to say stop treating me like a kid."

That still haunts me, though. Whenever I'm out with Magnus and Elian, there are still bodyguards in the vicinity.

"You're just twenty-three."

"The moment Mamá brought up the responsibility of getting married to me, I'm no longer one."

Ever since I was ten, she told me I better work my ass off with more vital things than playing with other kids. Ni hindi ko nga maalalang nakapaglaro ako sa labas ng bahay. My toys at home got ridden off when I turned thirteen.